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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-13 Park Board PacketDraft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Click here to enter a date. Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Park Board Edina City Hall, Council Chambers November 7, 2016 I. Call To Order Chair McCormick called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering roll call were Chair McCormick, Members Gieseke, Strother, Good, Nelson, McAwley, Miller and Student Members Gustafson and Hulbert. Absent: Members Dahlien, Mohs and Meyer. Staff present: Staff Liaison Ann Kattreh, Administrative Support Specialist Janet Canton, Recreation Supervisor Amanda Clarke, Recreation Supervisor Donna Tilsner, Braemar Golf Course Maintenance Superintendent Tom Swenson, Centennial Lakes General Manager Tom Shirley, Edinborough Park and Edina Aquatic Center General Manager Patty McGrath and Braemar Arena and Field General Manager Chad Eischens III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda Motion made by Good to approve the meeting agenda. Motion seconded by Nelson. Motion carried. IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Motion made by Nelson to approve the Oct. 10, 2016 minutes. Motion seconded by Strother. Motion carried. V. Community Comment None VI. Reports/Recommendations A. Proposed 2017 Parks & Recreation Fees Staff Liaison Kattreh introduced the following staff: Patty McGrath, General Manager for Edinborough Park/Edina Aquatic Center Amanda Clarke – Recreation Supervisor Tom Swenson – Maintenance Superintendent for Braemar Golf Course Tom Shirley – General Manager for Centennial Lakes Chad Eischens – General Manager for Braemar Arena and Field Donna Tilsner – Recreation Supervisor for the Edina Senior Center Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Click here to enter a date. Staff Liaison Kattreh went over the proposed 2017 Parks & Recreation fees. Park Board members asked questions of staff and had discussions. Motion by Good to approve the recommended Parks & Recreation program fees for 2017. Motion seconded by Nelson. Motion carried. B. Aquatic Center Improvements Update General Manager of Edinborough Park/Edina Aquatic Center Patty McGrath gave a power point presentation and update on the Edina Aquatic Center facility improvements. She pointed out there will be both amenity improvements and facility improvements. She explained the project, cost and financing and went through the tentative timeline. Park Board members asked questions and had discussions. C. Ready-Set-Connect Program Recreation Supervisor Amanda Clarke reported on the Edina Community Foundation’s Ready- Set-Connect Program that the city is joining starting Jan. 1, 2017. She explained how the current grant-in-aid program works and how the new Ready-Set-Connect Program works. The idea is to make the registration process as easy as possible which will allow a person/family to only need to apply once in order to be eligible for scholarships with affiliated groups. Each of the affiliated groups can set their own standards for what they would like to offer. Park Board members asked questions and had discussions. D. Start Doing, Stop Doing, Keep Doing Discussion Chair McCormick gave a recap of the work they did at their October meeting regarding what they would like to continue doing, start doing and stop doing and asked if anyone wanted to add anything to the list. Chair McCormick reported at their December meeting they will discuss this more in depth and determine what they would like to see prioritized and what they would like to take action on. Park Board members had a discussion. E. Work Plan Updates Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Click here to enter a date. Member McAwley reported on the Oct. 6, 2016 meeting she attended for the Arden Park Natural Resource Plan. She noted the next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10. They received a lot of good feedback from the community. Member Strother reported the Arden Park Natural Resource Plan will be brought to the Park Board once they have an idea of the concept and move to the planning stages. Staff Liaison Kattreh reported they have started to plan the master planning process for Fred Richards Park. Recently some members of the Park Board as well as several city staff from different departments walked the park. The intention was to bring this variety of resources to the table and give them the opportunity to bring up any concerns or known issues with the site to the consultants. Currently they are gathering all of the information so they can formally begin the planning process. Park Board members asked questions and had discussions. Member Miller reported there was a meeting with the vendor, Sign Crafters, on Oct. 20, 2016. He reported the two most important things that are happening right now are a survey and inventory and the second part is the design; what do we want the signs to look like? He encouraged the Park Board to start thinking about it and start looking at signs all over. He noted any ideas or pictures should be sent to Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus who will be the consolidator of the ideas. The Park Board asked questions and had discussions. VII. Correspondence and Petitions Chair McCormick acknowledged the Park Board’s receipt of various correspondences. VIII. Chair and Member Comments Chair McCormick informed the Park Board they are looking at holding the December Park Board meeting at a different venue; she would like to recognize the Park Board for all of their work this year. Member Nelson recognized and thanked Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus for doing such a great job with the inclusive playground at Rosland Park. Everyone is very excited about it. Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Click here to enter a date. Member Good reported he has been over to the Pickleball courts quite a bit and from what he has heard they get a lot of activity; it has been a great addition. He thinks residents will be asking for more of them. IX. Staff Comments Staff Liaison Kattreh made the following comments: • She thanked Members Nelson and McAwley for their work on Rosland Park • Oct. 28 was the Not So Scary Halloween Party at Edinborough Park; it was well attended with 187 paid admissions and over 550 people in attendance • They are in the process of hiring a maintenance operations coordinator at Edinborough Park • Braemar Golf Course currently has the Northwood’s Boutique which will be there from Oct. 28 through Nov. 12 • The Golf Dome opened on Nov. 1 • There will be a new Junior Golf program at the Golf Dome starting in November • Golf Course architect Richard Mandell will be in town on Nov. 10 • Golf Course construction is moving along very well; with the beautiful weather they are ahead of schedule • Braemar Golf Course will be having a holiday open house on Dec. 7 • Braemar Golf Course will start their indoor bean bag league in January • Recreation Supervisors Clarke and Boettcher along with Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Faus have been working really hard on the 2017 Spring/Summer Activities Directory • The Art Center has also been working really hard on the 2017 Spring/Summer Activities Directory; the Art Center will be offering over 83 summers camps in the upcoming directory • Centennial Lakes Park is wrapping up their building rental season; it will take approximately two weeks to prepare the Hughes Pavilion as a warming house with a tentative opening skating date of Dec. 16 • Braemar Field is officially open as of today • The Backyard Rink has been shut down for the last nine days because of the warm temperatures; hopefully they will reopen soon • Indoor hockey will start later this month; the first High School game is Nov. 11 and the first EHA tournament is over Thanksgiving weekend • Breakfast with Santa at Braemar Golf Course will be held on Dec. 10 • Santa Land at Braemar Arena will be held on Dec. 17 • Family New Year’s Eve Party at Edinborough will be held on Dec. 31 Draft Minutes☒ Approved Minutes☐ Approved Date: Click here to enter a date. • Reminder from last month: Donna Tilsner is retiring and her last day will be Nov. 30 • Over 140 applications were received for the Recreation Supervisor job at the Senior Center and they have narrowed it down to four candidates • The Parks & Recreation Department are currently working on the 2017 Department Work Plan and will have that done within the next two weeks X. Adjournment Motion made by Good to adjourn the Nov. 7, 2016 meeting at 8:32 p.m. Motion seconded by Nelson. Motion carried. Approved by Council 12/6/16 Board/Commission: Park Board 2017 Annual Work Plan Initiative 1 Council Charge 1 2 3 4 Target Completion Date Budget Required (Staff Liaison) Staff Support Required (Staff Liaison) New Initiative Continued Initiative Ongoing Responsibility Dec. 2017 $0 Ann Kattreh – 40 hours Arden Park Natural Resource Plan Progress Report: Initiative 2 Council Charge 1 2 3 4 Target Completion Date Budget Required (Staff Liaison) Staff Support Required (Staff Liaison) New Initiative Continued Initiative Ongoing Responsibility Dec. 2017 $0 Ann Kattreh – 160 hours, Susan Faus, 100 hours & Janet Canton - 40 hours, Park Maintenance – 20 hours Braemar Park Master Plan Progress Report: Initiative 3 Council Charge 1 2 3 4 Target Completion Date Budget Required (Staff Liaison) Staff Support Required (Staff Liaison) New Initiative Continued Initiative Ongoing Responsibility Oct. 2017 $0 Ann Kattreh – 160 hours, Susan Faus, 100 hours & Janet Canton - 40 hours, Park Maintenance – 20 hours Fred Richards Master Plan Progress Report: Initiative 4 Council Charge 1 2 3 4 Target Completion Date Budget Required (Staff Liaison) Staff Support Required (Staff Liaison) New Initiative Continued Initiative Ongoing Responsibility July 2017 $0 Susan Faus – 120 hours, Janet Canton – 40 hours, Ann Kattreh – 40 hours Park Signage Replacement Project Progress Report: Initiative 5 Council Charge 1 2 3 4 Target Completion Date Budget Required (Staff Liaison) Staff Support Required (Staff Liaison) Approved by Council 12/6/16 New Initiative Continued Initiative Ongoing Responsibility December 2017 $0 Assist as requested with development of the City’s new Comprehensive Guide Plan. Progress Report: Initiative 6 Council Charge 1 2 3 4 Target Completion Date Budget Required (Staff Liaison) Staff Support Required (Staff Liaison) New Initiative Continued Initiative Ongoing Responsibility December 2017 $0 Weber Woods Master Plan [Partner with St. Louis Park] Progress Report: Proposed Month for Joint Work Session (one time per year, up to 60 minutes): April Memory Garden Committee Recommendations November 7, 2016 As revised and edited by Liz Genovese and Joan Scott Nov. 7, 2016 Why redesign the Memory Garden? The Memory Garden is a garden that should invite you to come and reflect and to give you comfort. As any garden, it needs to be maintained, the current garden has not been overhauled for many years and needs much attention. The whole sense of place needs to be refreshed as a tribute to our Members and as a place for the people of the Community. The Current Garden Status is: • Trees and shrubs have been lost to disease: Austrian Pine, Redbud, Magnolias, azaleas, etc. • Viburnum and possibly some burning bush have overgrown the space. • The Garden has lost its design/character. There is an opportunity now to create a wonderful space for the Community of Edina as well as others who want to enjoy this Garden spot. We think it can be another example of the horticultural nature of Arneson as envisioned by Morton and Katherine Arneson. • The closeness of the peony plants to each other does not allow for appreciation of the different types of peonies. This is a valued horticultural collection that can be accommodated beautifully among other plantings. A Redesign Memory Garden would provide: • Redesign would include lower maintenance. • Future giving to the Garden would be used immediately and honor the memory of past garden members. The Memory Garden Fund will be the first to be used. • Redesign would allow for greater use of this Garden area for small weddings and ceremonies (which is already happening!) This would be a possible additional rental opportunity separate from the Gazebo. • This Garden in Arneson Acres Park is already a setting for photo-shoots, both private and professional. Many people DO know that it is there and are drawn to the area even with the lack of paths or sidewalks. Maybe this is part of the charm. Why hire a landscape architect? The members of our Committee, through our reading and gathering ideas, realized that we needed some direction. The scope of renewing the Memory Garden is greater than just a new flower bed and a few plantings here and there. This led us to a search for landscape architects and landscape contractors. A landscape architect can envision the garden space as a whole and as it exists in relation to the whole Park. The Process: • We talked with two landscape contractors. The first contractor wanted to do the work but not design the space. The second gave us a very simple and inadequate design for the space. • We interviewed three landscape architects: two on recommendation from Damon/Farber, Simonet Design, Cunningham design(Fitzpatrick). Tsuke Studio. • All professionals and Ann Kattreh received written information from the EGC Committee outlining our guidelines including our wants and concerns. • We gave the contractors and the architects a tour of the garden and the history of the garden and what we hoped to change. • We subsequently met two times with Ann Kattreh, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City. The purpose of these meetings was: a) to be sure that the Clubs could redesign the Garden. b) to keep her informed of our progress. The Committee’s Recommendation: • We have unanimously chosen Tsuke Studio, Tony Ransom-Siebenaler as the landscape architect for our project. The Cost of design budget, Need for construction budget and target dates: • $11,500.00 for the design, construction documentation and work observation to Tsuke Studio. This fee covers for Tony, the architect, to compile the document with specifications for the construction work and his observation of the progression of the job. This fee does not include the construction or the plant costs. • EGC has the money to fund this stage of the project. EGC could accept and fund this proposal by its deadline of December 31, 2016. • Additional funding from EGC funds is available to cover the construction and plant costs in stages beginning this spring. • The Garden Clubs will be asked to contribute to the Memory Garden Construction Fund. • Additional funding will be sought through in kind materials, seeding some of the plants in the greenhouse and other fundraising efforts. The Next Steps: • December 13th present our plan and a design choice, Tsuke Studio, at the Park Board Meeting. • City Council’s December 20th meeting Accept the donation from the EGC for the Tsuke Studio fee. Recognize it as a gift from EGC for $11,500. This would allow the City to sign a contract with Tsuke Studio to design the garden. • Informational meetings this winter with the architectural team from Tsuke Studio for our Committee and Garden Club members. • Relocate the valued peony collection both in the Memory Garden and to a suitable site near-by where the peonies will flourish. Each plant will be clearly labeled to educate the community on the types of peonies. The Committee Requests: • The financial commitment from all of the garden clubs. • Support in developing this garden over time as funding and construction phases proceed. • Affirm that EGC is undertaking this project to enhance the Park for the community and to demonstrate to the City that Arneson Park is a gem of a Park. Respectfully Submitted this November 7, 2016, Members of the Memory Garden Committee, Liz Genovese and Karen Platt, Co-Chairs. Memory Garden Presentation From Liz Genovese Recommendation The Memory garden Committee recommends hiring Tsuke Studio, Tony Ransom Siebenaler to renovate the Memory Garden. Edina Garden Council past support for Arneson Acres Park. Year Project Cost 1986 First Fountain $17,000 1996 Gabezo $49,789 2004-2005 Second Fountain $51,138 2007 70th St. Sprinkler system $7,024 2015 Lily and Reserve fences $12,995 The need to renovate the Memory Garden • To honor our commitment to deceased members whose family donated funds to this garden. (The amount currently: $3,900+). • We have the money to pay for a landscape design that would appropriately situate the peony collection and add planting and sitting areas to make it a reflective space. • The project demonstrates to the City that EGC seriously supports the Park. Garden Maintenance • The garden will be designed for low maintenance. • Maintenance will be the responsibility of the City of Edina. Time frame and budget • The committee presents Tsuke Studio design proposal at the Dec. 13 Edina City Park Board meeting. We have the support of Ann Kattreh. • The Design Cost is $11,500.00 due Dec. 20, 2016 at City Council meeting. • The project starts January 2017. • Construction Costs occurring 2017 thru 2019 will be $60,000. • EGC treasury can budget for the Design and Construction Phases. City of Edina Memory Garden - Arneson Acres 100ft 44.877 -93.347 Degre. December 13, 2016 Park Board Jessica Wilson, Water Resources Coordinator Arden Park Concept Plan Draft - Update and Solicitation for Feedback Information / Background: On August 16, 2016 City Council authorized a memorandum of agreement with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) to develop the Arden Park Concept Plan. The partnership is an intuitive one because it advances the overlapping goals related to water resources, park improvements, and civic engagement. The City and MCWD are joined by Park Board members Julie Strother and Eileen McAwley who have volunteered to serve on the planning and outreach team. The civic engagement strategy includes a series of three public meetings, two of which have already occurred. Seeking to understand the desires and values of the community at the beginning was a critical piece in shaping the development of the Arden Park Concept Plan to date. About 800 invitations were sent to neighbors in the Arden Park neighborhood and northern Minnehaha Woods neighborhood (the area bounded by 50th and 56th, and Wooddale and France). The public notice also provided the opportunity to participate through the project website: www.minnehahacreek.org/arden-park. Meeting #1 kicked off in October with about 24 participants. We introduced the partners, shared our goals, and asked the neighbors for their participation in the process. We started with a blank slate, recognizing that a concept plan should be informed by the neighborhood and users of the park. Before putting a pen to paper, we convened the neighborhood in the first meeting and asked these three key questions; 1) How do you use the Park and what is valuable to you about the Park? 2) What issues or concerns need to be addressed with the Park? 3) What are your desires for the future of Arden Park? Input from the participants was organized into five major categories; community placemaking, connecting with nature, water recreation, recreation (passive and active), and maintenance and safety. This feedback informed the draft concept for meeting #2. STAFF REPORT Page 2 We convened the neighborhood for a second meeting in November and presented the initial concept ideas to an audience of about 25. A series of small focus group discussions focused on the creek, facilities, and trails helped to further refine the concept plan and allowed us to check some assumptions. There were several themes that emerged.  It was apparent that the neighbors viewed the park as a community resource with one participant saying, “the park belongs to the neighborhood.”  Neighbors were in favor of a community meeting place, but there was some hesitation about improvements that would draw a lot of additional traffic to the park.  There were concerns about the schedule of any future work and the funding source. The neighborhood had recently undergone a street reconstruction and have recent memory of the impacts and assessments.  Flooding and drainage issues were a concern.  The natural character of the park was of high value and there was a desire to have more opportunities to connect with the creek and nature through both passive and active modes, both in the Minnehaha Creek corridor and adjacent park areas.  Nature, native plants, ecosystem health, and natural beauty frequently appeared in comments  In-stream recreation included a wide range of users from adventure seeking kayakers to leisurely tubers. There was a desire for more access points from which to fish and view the creek.  There is an opportunity to better connect the Brookview neighborhood to the park, both visually and physically.  The trails, with multiple access points, loops, and types were well received.  The permanent ice rink might accommodate a summertime use as a sanctioned dog park, as opposed to a sport court.  Overall, the requests were modest, asking for upgrades to existing facilities. Residents indicated that the ice rink and warming house are highly valued and heavily used, but in need of improvement. We recently convened Park Maintenance staff to get their perspective and ensure that the draft concept is consistent with their operations. They provided insight on access, use, aesthetics, and safety that will inform the concept as it nears completion. Before we invite the neighbors for meeting #3, we want to check in with the Park Board and City Council to review the initial concept design and solicit more feedback. A copy will be displayed on the screen and hard copies will be provided. We’ll briefly orient you to the plan, then listen, answer questions, and ask some questions of our own. Many stakeholders have been involved as we continue to work toward a concept plan for Arden Park that reflects the needs and desires of the community. Once complete, the Arden Park Concept Plan may be used as a planning tool for prioritizing future projects and to leverage other funding sources. More information about the project can be found at www.minnehahacreek.org/arden-park. Fred Richards Park Master Plan Page 1 of 2 MEETING AGENDA A. Strategic Plan Overview and Application to Fred Richards Master Plan – 5 min. a. Brief review of Edina Vision Plan B. Master Plan Process and Schedule Update – 5 min. C. Park Board Vision and Guiding Principles Listening Session – 40 min. a. Strengths b. Needs – Future Needs c. Issues d. Opportunities e. Threats D. Public Engagement Prioritization Exercise – 10 minutes a. Overview of Proposed Public Engagement Strategy i. Identified stakeholders and audiences ii. Strategies for engagement b. Prioritizing audiences and techniques for engagement – an interactive exercise to gather Park Board input in prioritizing stakeholders, approaches, and events for Public Engagement PROJECT: Fred Richards Park Master Plan Workshop PROJECT #: DATE/ TIME: December 14th, 2016 LOCATION: Edina City Hall RE: Park Board Workshop PROJECT/00000XX Page 2 of 2 CITY OF EDINA 10/01/14 FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS VISION MASTER PLAN FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS VISION MASTER PLAN FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Prepared By: Schoenbauer Consulting, LLC 5054 Drew Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55410 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Introduction and Acknowledgments INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC PROCESS On April 22, 2014 the Edina City Council retained Schoenbauer Consulting, LLC to undertake a repurposing study for Fred Richards. This report summarizes the findings of the first step in the planning process and establishes a broad vision and baseline development program for the site. The main goal of this step is to establish the parameters for "highest and best public use" of the property, which will be used to guide development of a detailed master plan. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT The general public, neighborhood residents, various stakeholders, and special interest groups were invited to participate in an open public process to ensure that pertinent planning issues were discovered and addressed by the study. The public process included: • Public meetings — where all interested parties could provide input and perspectives • Site walks — to give residents a chance to discuss site-specific issues and concerns • Interviews, phone calls, and email exchanges —with defined stakeholder groups, special interest groups and nearby developers • Social media — using the City's web-based public access portal to gather additional information on community opinions Public input into the planning process was insightful and central to establishing a core vision for the property as the City moves forward in making important decisions about repurposing the site. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CONSULTANT TEAM The consultant team appreciated the opportunity to work with the City of Edina in undertaking an open public process for this challenging project. The team especially acknowledges input from the many residents and stakeholder groups that were involved. Their individual and collective insights and perspectives were instrumental in drawing reasoned conclusions. The consultant team also thanks the Park Board and city staff. Their commitment to an open public process ensured that all opinions were duly considered. Their understanding of the larger planning context and how the site fits into the larger city picture was also of high value. Sincerely, Jeff Schoenbauer, Schoenbauer Consulting, LLC Principal-in-Charge / Project Manager Schoenbauer Consulting, LLC 5054 Drew Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55410 jaschoenbauer@gmail.com 612.578.1975 In collaboration with: Genus Landscape Architects 325 East 5th Street Des Moines, IA 50309 FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 11 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Table of Contents BACKGROUND AND PROJECT GOALS I - 2 Overview/Background 1 Steps in the Repurposing Process 1 Project Goals SETTING, TRENDS, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH 3 - 8 Overview 3 Planning Context and Park Setting 3 Park Use Trends and Facility Demands 4 Public Outreach Findings 6 Safety and Security 8 VISION MASTER PLAN 9-22 Overview 9 Creativity and Uniqueness a Core Value 9 Balancing Active Uses with Preserving Natural Areas and Sense of Place 9 Vision Master Plan Overview 10 Parkway Corridor 12 Regional Trail Corridor 13 Internal Park Trails, Promenades and Boardwalks 14 Community Activities and Events Area 15 Adventure Play Area 16 Field Games Area 17 Open Parkland Area I 8 Naturalized Buffers 20 Repurposing the Maintenance Building 22 Urban Agriculture Area (Alternative) 22 IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS 23 - 26 Overview 23 Interrelationship and Collaboration with Pentagon Park Redevelopment 23 Technical Conditions and Challenges 25 Cost Projections for Repurposing Site 26 FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 111 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY The 42 acres of open space land provides a unique park opportunity for the City. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAIvRLIES & DOING BUSINESS iv FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Background and Project Framework OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND STEPS IN THE REPURPOSING PROCESS On March 18, 2014, the Edina City Council accepted staff and Park Board recommendations to cease the golf operation. On April 22, 2014, the City Council authorized undertaking this repurposing study, which was to be forward looking and would not focus on revisiting the decision to close the golf course. This study is the first step in the process of repurposing the Fred Richards site for public use, as the following illustrates. STARTING POINT: CITY COUNCIL DECISION TO CLOSE TILE COURSE STUDY Focus Note: Between steps I and 2, the City will consider study findings as part of park system planning effort. This evaluation may result in ---1" refinement of this plan as city-wide needs relative to this park are further considered STEP 1: CREATE A SET OF PRINCIPLES AND VISION FOR THE SITE Based on findings from this public process, Park Board and City Council set parameters for "highest and best public use" of the property. STEP 2: PREPARE A DETAILED MASTER PLAN FOR THE SITE Consistent with the findings of step 1 and City Council directives. STEP 3: DEVELOP FUNDING PACKAGE Depending on the type and scope of final master plan outcomes, may or may not require phasing. STEP 4: UNDERTAKE CONSTRUCTION Includes preparing construction documents, bidding project, and construction. As illustrated, the public process is purposefully robust and allows the community numerous opportunities to refine outcomes through each of the outlined steps. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 1 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY PROJECT GOALS The purpose of the study was to engage the public to gather information and ideas about repurposing the Fred Richards site to position the City Council to make an informed decision about its future use. Key principles established for the study include: • Maintaining an open and transparent public process • Seeking creative ideas and options • Providing context and background information to aid the City Council in analyzing and considering repurposing opportunities The consultant spent considerable time gathering background information and listening to various stakeholders and members of the community. Specifically, the team's charge was to: • Understand the community issues and perspectives associated with repurposing the site • Provide a public conduit for generating ideas • Define viable options for City Council consideration • Undertake baseline development cost evaluation • Provide perspective related to findings from the public process • Recommend a plan of action for the City Council to further consider FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 2 FRED RICHARDS SITE FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Seting, Trends, and Public Outreach OVERVIEW PLANNING CONTEXT AND PARK SETTING The following considers the setting for the park, local recreational trends and demands for facilities to meet community needs, and public input into the process. Collectively, these findings shaped planning outcomes and the vision for the park. The Fred Richards site is located in the southeastern part of the city, as the following park map illustrates. 1. Alden Park 2. Arden Park 3. Arneson Acres Park 4. Birchcrest Park 5. Braemar Park (Courtney Fields) 6. Bredesen Park 7. Browndale Park 8. Centennial Lakes Park 9. Chowen Park 0. Cornelia School Park 11. Countryside Park 12. Creek Valley School Park 13. Edinborough Park 14. Fox Meadow Park 15. Garden Park 16. Heights Park 17. Highlands Park 18. Kolath Park 19. Lake Edina Park 20. Lewis Park 21. McGuire Park 22. Melody Lake Park 23. Normandale Park 24. Pamela Park 25. Rosland Park (includes disc gall course) 26. Sherwood Park 27.91. John's Park 28. Strachauer Park 29 Tingdale Park 30.1 Lea Todd Park 31. Frank Tupa Park 32. Utley Park 33. Van Valkenburg Park 34. Walnut Ridge Park 35. Weber field Park 36. Williams Park 37. Wooddale Park 38. York Park 39. Yorktown Park (includes skate park) OPEN SPACE AREAS 40. Lincoln Drive Floodplain 41. Garden Park Addition 42. Krahl Hill 43. Moore Property FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 3 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY As a starting point for the public process, baseline considerations included: • Repurposing of the site is a very unique opportunity for a developed city • General consensus that the site will become a park • Size, location, and opportunity suggest the park falls under a "community park" classification, with this process being used to define how the site is best developed to meet community needs and fit into the local park system • Outcome needs to be of high public value and serve a cross-section of residents (neighborhood and larger community) Other key considerations include: • Any park development needs to be compatible with, and complementaiy to, the adjoining land uses • Connected, but not intrusive, to adjoining properties • Accommodate the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail • Be sensitive to environmental issues (e.g., Nine Mile Creek watershed and stormwater management concerns) If done well, the general consensus is that the park will instantly become an important and perhaps cornerstone component of the local park system. PARK USE TRENDS AND FACILITY DEMANDS The Park Board provided insights into city-wide and site-specific park trends and facility demands. Overall, the common theme was to create a unique park experience focusing on getting children and families outdoors more, along with providing a pleasant place for nearby business employees to use during work days. Serving the park needs of the entire community versus a select group or neighborhood was also important to the Park Board. Key considerations and observations include: • Sports fields — addressing the need for field space, especially related to field games like soccer and lacrosse; focus should be on youth age groups; lighting is probably not needed • New forms of recreation — be open to emerging forms of recreation, like Futsal, that would appeal to different age groups • Urban agriculture — expanding on the community garden theme • Outdoor adventure and creative play — providing unique and adventuresome play areas that go beyond typical play equipment; perhaps with a focus on natural play and/or outdoor adventure • Attract hard to reach groups — emphasize a welcoming environment and facilities that appeal to the 15 to 18 year age group, a notoriously challenging group to engage • Develop the park for all seasons — including winter activities, such as cross-country skiing, ice skating and snowshoeing; includes access to a warming house • Accommodate groups — by providing areas for group gatherings and staging events; repurpose clubhouse to accommodate flexible group use; consider additional modest-sized shelters or structures for group use 4 FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY • Integrate the regional trail — establishing trailhead amenities; establishing a "bike library" which makes bikes, trikes, and other peddle-power vehicles available for public use; perhaps include bike shop and/or offer repair classes • Buffering — it is as important to buffer views from both inside and outside park • Provide adequate but not excessive parking — includes meeting day-to-day parking needs; also includes collaborating with Pentagon Park developer to meet peak parking needs (i.e., evenings, weekends, and events) with off-site shared parking facilities in select locations • Be cautious about overbuilding — larger scale features such as community center, indoor athletic facilities, competitive pool, youth center, etc. are not well-suited for this park Over the years, the City has undertaken a variety of park and recreation focused surveys to help inform planning decisions on a system-wide basis. Since these surveys have a community-wide and not site-specific focus, caution is needed in applying these findings to individual parks. To that end, integrating the findings of these surveys and this study into the larger system-wide planning effort the City is undertaking (mid-2014/early 2015) is an important recommendation by the Park Board. This will allow the City to fully understand how Fred Richards fits into the larger system and help fine-tune the development program for the park within that context. (The steps in the repurposing process defined on page 1 purposefully accommodates this approach.) Of considerable importance in fine-tuning the master plan is accommodating pertinent demographic changes across the city and how that may affect final development decisions. Within the system-wide context, the development program as currently envisioned for the site does in fact address many of the top priorities defined in the various surveys. For example, the 2006 Community Attitude and Interest Survey focusing on parks and recreation identified walking and biking trails as being very popular, as is creating and/or protecting natural areas and wildlife habitat. The amenities envisioned for the park that focus on families and youth sports are also consistent with survey results. For example, development of outdoor athletic fields was supported by a majority of households. The 2013 City of Edina Survey related to use and rating of park and recreation facilities found 79 percent of household members reported using the trail system during the past year, with 84 percent reported using neighborhood parks. Nearly half (48 percent) of household members reported using the larger community playfields during the past year. The 2014 Grandview Resident Survey finds that residents are veiy supportive of projects that foster a stronger sense of community. Residents also think the City should create more recreational opportunities, as well as cultural and arts opportunities for people of all ages and incomes. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAIVILLIES & DOING BUSINESS 5 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY PUBLIC OUTREACH FINDINGS Site walks were used as a means to better understand specific concerns of adjacent residents. The public process was open to all individuals and groups to ensure that everyone with an interest in the park had a chance to voice their perspectives. The public outreach process included: • Open public meetings (including comment cards) • Resident-focused site walks • Online comment forms for repurposing Fred Richards • Speak Up, Edina! • Direct emails (to staff) • Interviews with the Pentagon Park developer • Interviews with a cross-section of nearby apartment and local businesses The following captures the overall themes and sub-themes that came out of the collective process and helped shape the development program for the site. COMMON THEMES FROM THE PUBLIC OUTREACH PROCESS Participants uniformly agree that the site is an important community asset, with the vast majority feeling turning it into a park is the best way forward. There is absolutely no interest in selling the property for development or using the site for stormwater management associated with the commercial redevelopment south of the park. Although individual perspectives vary, creating a well-designed community park that serves all residents best describes how the majority of residents envision the site being repurposed. A number of sub-themes also emerged through the public process, including: • Provide a diversity of uses — offering a friendly and accommodating social environment that is inviting to all residents, with a particular focus on families and children's activities ("kid" friendly) • Create a park that is unique and innovative — go beyond typical features to make the park more interesting and different than a typical park; design for year-round use • Enhance natural qualities of the park — including the appearance of ponds and using more natural buffers • Manage vehicular and pedestrian access — to ensure ease of access and limit disruption to established neighborhoods SPECIFIC ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS Residents in the surrounding neighborhoods have varying opinions on how the property should be repurposed, although there is fairly uniform agreement that a park is the most appropriate end use. As would be expected, residents also have specific and quite reasonable concerns that need to be duly considered as the planning moves forward. Most notable of these include: • Adequately buffer adjacent properties — to minimize sense of encroachment and invasion of privacy; using a naturalized buffer is generally preferred FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 6 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY • Prevent parking and vehicle access from disrupting the neighborhood — which essentially means providing park access and parking on the south side • Locate active use area (game fields, play structures, etc.) away from residential areas — such as on the south and east sides of the property; use trees and vegetation to help screen these areas • Keep the regional trail on the south side to extent possible — focus on lower-volume and slower paced park-like trails within the park • Limit pedestrian access from the north to select locations — most likely from the cul-de-sac at the end of Kellogg Ave. • Bury power line along the north property line — to improve the aesthetic for the park users and homeowners • Limit lighting to critical areas — do not provide field lighting, and make sure that lighting associated with roads, parking lots, and buildings on the south side of the park are not disruptive or excessive Understandably, residents on the north side of the site are concerned about buffering between the park and private properties. PERSPECTIVES FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES AND PENTAGON PARK DEVELOPER Interviews with local businesses and Pentagon Park developer reinforce or build upon the themes already described. For example, a nearby daycare provider would definitely use a community park, with having access to play equipment, splash pad, trails, community garden, nature-based activities, and even a simple grassy area for active play being very desirable. Adding more natural areas would be great for field trips. Businesses also see much value from the park. Simple, well-designed features like trails, sitting areas, and picnic areas are important for lunchtime and breaks. The park aesthetic itself would lend itself to a pleasant place to go to think and work informally with coworkers in an out-of-office setting. Having easy access to small meeting spaces within the park would be beneficial. Having access to active recreational facilities is also important to a growing number of employers as part of their wellness focus. Seagate, for example, has employee programs for walking, running, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, yoga, and boot camp, to name a few. The Pentagon Park development team also expects future employers and employees will use the park for personal and corporate wellness efforts. Easy access to the regional trail and trailhead facilities enhances bike and walk-to-work commuter programs. Under the right circumstances, local businesses expressed an openness to collaborate on developing outdoor fitness facilities for mutual benefit. One example of this is putting a fitness course along a trail within the park. (Note: Additional discussion related to the Pentagon Park development is provided on page 23.) FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 7 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY AREAS OF CONCERN AND CRITIQUE Overall, the public process proved invaluable to identifying issues and defining opportunities, and ultimately shaping the vision master plan. For the most part, participants where respectful of each other, City staff, and elected officials, and participated in good faith in providing input. In the context of good faith, residents found it important to document areas of dissatisfaction — most of which related to the closing the golf course. Key points of feedback include: • Dissatisfaction with the process and timeframe associated with closing the golf course, with many feeling it was rushed and did not allow for real public debate • Mistrust about the City's intent to allow the Pentagon Park developer to use the property for stormwater management • Concern that the City really intends to sell the property for commercial development • Lack of concern for those most affected by changing land uses, especially homeowners that have a lot invested in their properties and are concerned about impacts that reuses, parking, and access will have on them and the neighborhood • Lack of clarity on how the City plans to fund any new park development It also needs to be stated that some nearby residents simply do not accept the fact that the golf course should be closed and feel the City's approach here and in general is ill advised. Hopefully, this process (and the steps going forward) will help alleviate these concerns and build a higher level of trust between all participants. SAFETY AND SECURITY According to Edina Police, there is very little crime going on in local parks — with no robberies, assaults, or weapons violations being recorded. Edina Police feel parks are safe for residents and visitors. Other related research draws similar conclusions. For example, research on trail-related crime conducted by Schoenbauer Consulting, LLC in 2010 yielded the following results: • Respondents (law enforcement officers) consider trails to be safe, with the vast majority (87%) reporting that trails account for less than 5% of all unlawful activity in their jurisdiction, and nearly 50% saying that it is less than 1% • Trespassing on adjacent property is considered low incidence, with issues of more serious crimes against persons or property being very infrequent Police often cite parking lots as their biggest concern, where occasionally theft from cars can be an issue wherever the opportunity for a quick getaway exists. While people's concerns about the security deserves due consideration, parks and trails are actually considered quite safe by police agencies and account for a relatively small percentage of unlawful activity and safety problems. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 8 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Vision Master Plan OVERVIEW CREATIVITY AND UNIQUENESS A CORE VALUE BALANCING ACTIVE USES WITH PRESERVING NATURAL AREAS AND A SENSE-OF-PLACE The vision master plan is the first step in translating public input into an actual development program for the park. The following describes desired end uses and related physical features envisioned for the park as an outcome of step 1 of the repurposing process. The goal is to set forth a cohesive storyline for the park so that residents, Park Board and City Council have a point of focus for continued refinement as part of the next steps in this process. Discussions during the public process often centered on the desire for a creative and unique design outcome for the park. Irrespective of individual opinion on many site issues, this perspective is clearly a shared and core value of participants. This step in the process focused on defining the core vision for the site (i.e., community park) and describing the basic design intent associated with the individual functional uses. The detailed master plan phase (step 2) is where much more specific and detailed attention is given to finding creative ways to achieve the vision and creating a compelling high quality park experience. With this in mind, the goal with the forthcoming descriptions is to establish a baseline for discussions to come as the design process moves forward. To further inform the next step in the process, a variety of photos and character sketches are provided to highlight design approaches and themes. While the final design for Fred Richards will be refined under the next step, these are provided to reinforce the importance of quality design in translating the individual elements described in this report into a truly inspired public amenity that will serve the community well for many decades to come. The vision master plan strives to balance active recreational uses to meet community needs with preserving open space and the site's sense of place and aesthetic qualities. While providing a variety of recreational and educational opportunities is a fundamental goal, showing restraint in the size and location of the built footprint is also an important public value. Under this plan, approximately 35 to 40 percent of the park is envisioned for active recreational uses, such as field games, play areas, and community gathering spaces. The remaining 60 to 65 percent is set aside for more passive, or "quiet," forms of recreation, open space, ponding areas, and buffers. Examples of passive uses include park trails, sitting areas, informal-use lawn areas, and wildflower gardens. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 9 • 1 ['. 1 Hibiscus Ave. „,s , C . ;\ ,'NATIIIRALIZEID BUFFER , ;\ 1 , , ' / \ / .---''s n ,A____-4----11" I -- 1 ,_ ---i ---, 1 • ' - Cr4 I . Lone. Oc) _ _ PAR In TIZAIL, -sNTu1'I.;kL1ZED BUELER / , >, OVEN PAP:LAND ‘,ARE.t- NATURALIZED/PASSIYE USE ' \ \ • .e ".1 . , \ qt, OPEN PARKLAND s ; , AREA --PASSIVE/ IN3EIGHBORTIOOD, /- DVENTURE PLAY AIR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AREA t RAIL _ Mail Connection to future deve/lopment Connects to 77th Street . . . tweets to 7th StrI t Y„ A._ CI) OPEN PARICUu D AREA — CASUAL RECREA ONAL USE 1 cARKWAY FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY STRIVING TO BALANCE ACTIVE USES WITH PRESERVING NATURAL AREAS AND A SENSE—OF—PLACE The vision master plan strives to find the right ... while still preserving natural open space balance between meeting community needs and the park's sense ofplace. for active recreational facilities ... VISION MASTER PLAN OVERVIEW The vision master plan describes a cross-section of features and amenities envisioned for the park to meet current and anticipated park and recreational demands. The following graphic illustrates the conceptual location of the major use areas and development features envisioned under the vision master plan. 10 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Under the plan, each area of the park addresses specific types of active and passive recreational uses to meet the needs of families and individuals. Active recreation refers to team sports or other activities that involves the use of playing fields and play areas. Passive recreation refers to the more personal and often "quiet" activities such as walking, observation, kite flying, yoga, and so forth. Taken together, the recreational features will provide a well-rounded palette of activities for families and individuals to enjoy. The more active recreational uses are envisioned on the southern and eastern sides of the park, largely adjacent to the proposed Pentagon Park redevelopment area. This orientation offers several key benefits: • Concentrates the more active uses where parking and vehicular access can be best accommodated, including the shared use of parking associated with future commercial development on the south and east side of the park • Takes advantage of an existing larger open space, which is not available on the western side where the property is narrower and broken up by existing wetlands • Leverages the repurposing of the clubhouse and maintenance facility to support active use facilities (i.e., group gathering space, restrooms, storm shelter, etc.) • Limits concerns about disrupting existing residential properties along the north property line The more passive recreational uses are envisioned on the northern and western sides of the park, largely adjacent to the established residential neighborhoods. With the existing (and perhaps expanded) ponds, rolling topography, natural and manicured green spaces, this area of the park is well suited for walking paths, overlooks and observation points, and other forms of casual recreation (e.g., kite flying, picnicking). A more passive approach to development also helps provide a distance buffer between the existing residential area and the more active park uses. The design layout for the park includes numerous opportunities to integrate community art, sculptures and other forms of community expression for public display. These types of features are important to creating a unique sense of place in the park that goes beyond the individual recreational features. The following provides an overview of the various development use areas within the park identified on the vision master plan. Each of these are subsequently defined in terms of the type and character of the various uses that would be envisioned within a given zone. Importantly, these descriptions represent a starting point for detailed design. Continued refinement of the ideas, amenity locations, and design approach is both expected and encouraged during step 2 in the process. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 11 Example of a parkway design that creates a aesthetically appealing edge to a park. Community art/ sculpture feature Informal laivn Parking bay Parkway with Regional trail boulevard Landscaped green buffer Sidewalk Comn ercial development area FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY PARKWAY CORRIDOR This corridor includes the parkway and associated parking areas to service the day to day needs of the park. The parkway is an important feature in ensuring ease of vehicular access to the park from the south (and east and west), where much of the use traffic will likely come from. Ease of access from the south is also vital to limiting the extent to which park users access the park from the north — where there is no real option to provide parking and local streets are not intended for heavier day to day traffic. The parkway also allows for shared use of parking lots with adjacent commercial properties during peak use times — most namely evenings and weekends. The parkway is envisioned as a shared benefit amenity with the Pentagon Park development area, with encroachment into the park property being limited in order to preserve park space. Heavier traffic volumes (and truck traffic in particular) should be directed toward 77th Street to preserve the character of the parkway and keep traffic volumes lower. The actual design of the parkway will evolve as part of a coordinated effort with the new developments south of the park. This includes determining the points of connection with 77th Street. (Note: through previous action, the City Council determined that a connection to 76th Street on the east side was not desirable.) The parkway will be built as phases of Pentagon Park are approved and developed. Another important aspect of the parkway is its importance in establishing a "park-like" aesthetic edge along the south property line. The parkway also plays a key role in creating a much more appealing buffer between the site and commercial development than is currently the case. The following graphic illustrates the streetscape character envisioned for the parkway. The parkway serves a functional purpose of providing park access and parking. The design character of the parkway is of equal hnportance in establishing a park-like aesthetic edge to the park, and creating an appealing buffer between the park and the commercial development to the south. Note that the boulevards and landscaped given beers are envisioned as important landscape features along with being part of the overall stomwater management plan (Le., bioswales and raingardens to filter rune). Onsite parking will be provided to meet day-to-day needs. Peak use (evenings and weekends) parking needs will be met by taking advantage of well-placed designated public parlcing areas associated with the commercial developments on the south side. (These will be defined as part of future development agreements with the Pentagon Park developer.) FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 12 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY The vast majority of park-dedicated parking will be accessed from the parkway. The largest parking lot within the park will be located near the active use zones. Additional more limited parking will be provided along the parkway in smaller bays that are integrated into the overall parkway and park design to be as unobtrusive as possible. A small to modest size public parking lot may also be needed off of Parklawn Avenue to service that area of the park. As a regional facility, the regional trail serves a broad range of local and non-local users. The trail will be designed to meet regional standards, which is 10 feet wide and hard-surfaced (typically asphalt pavement). The corridor plan for the regional trail shows it entering the park area from behind the Burgundy Place development on the west side, and exiting along Parklawn on the east side. Between these two points, Three Rivers Park District is flexible as to where the trail is best located relative to the future development of the park and commercial area to the south. The main goal of the District is to ensure the trail through this area is as pleasant and safe a user experience as possible. If well-located and designed, the regional trail will be a positive and important recreational amenity for park visitors and those living or working in the surrounding area. To minimize the potential for use conflicts with other park uses and activities, much of the regional trail will be located on the south side of the park along the parkway corridor. As the character sketch below illustrates, the goal is to create a pleasant trail experience while limiting the amount of park space it consumes. Keeping the regional use traffic on the south side of the park in this area also helps alleviate concerns about encroachment of the regional trail on residential properties on the north side. On the south side of the park, the regional trail will primarily parallel the parkway. As shown, , boulevards and green buffers on either side of the trail help create a park-like experience with minimal i impacts on other park uses. All I crossings with other trails and promenades will be designed with visual cues (e.g., pavement treatments, signage, landscape features) to minimize conflicts. Parkway with boulevard REGIONAL TRAIL CORRIDOR Community park Boulevard uses Regional trail Green buffer On the east side, the goal is for the regional trail to connect with (but stay on the periphery of) the community gathering, active use, and field games areas. Staying on the periphery of this active use zone is important to minimizing user conflicts. (Note: The alignment through this area is conceptual and will be refined during step 2— detailed master planning phase.) Trailhead facilities would be integrated into an overall design for this area of the park. Design features that serve the park and regional trail include parking, access to restTooms, sitting areas, refreshments, and bike rental. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 13 Simple park trail Vatying landscape features Naturalized landscape Suspended boardwalk with observation areas Existing natural Pond-edge vegetation boardwalk with Ponding seating FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Internal park trails provide a stand-alone park amenity along with providing access to the various park uses. In contrast to the regional trail, these trails have a more intimate and curvilinear character. Although bike use is not prohibited, park trails are designed more for pedestrian-level and slower-paced use than is the case with the regional trail. Generally, an 8-foot trail width is envisioned, although wider segments may be needed in busy areas, such as near the active use areas. Narrower trail segments may also be suitable to access overlooks, sitting areas and natural areas. In general, park trails will be hard-surfaced for accessibility and durability, but the surface treatment could be different to distinguish them from the regional trail. In select locations, such as the north arm and in natural areas, narrower aggregate surfaced trails may be also be appropriate. The vision master plan complements the park trails with promenades and boardwalks that add architectural elements and invite casual strolling in the park. These features also provide various opportunities to sit, observe, reflect, and gain access to a variety of activity nodes and park features. The following character sketches illustrate the general character of the park trails and boardwalks that would meander through the park. Park trail Suspended boardwalk and observation Edge boardwalk and sitting area platform As these character sketches illustrate, a combination of park trails and boardivalks are envisioned to provide a variety of casual trail experiences throughout the park. Access to the internal park trails will be primarily from the parkway corridor, south parking lots, and regional trail. More limited trail access from Parldawn (east side) and Kellogg Avenue (north side) is also envisioned. INTERNAL PARK TRAILS, PROMENADES AND BOARDWALKS Private drive access Boulevard New trail Eliminating the cul-de-sac at the end of Kellogg is a possibility to help manage pedestrian access and reduce concerns about excessive parking along the street. Final determination as to the desire and practicality of this approach will be considered as part of the detail design phase. (Additional input from affected property owners along Kellogg will be needed.) FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 14 The existing clubhouse is of good quality and can be reasonably repwposed for described park uses. Community activities and events area Off-site overflow parking FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 15 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AREA The main design goal of the community activities area is to repurpose the clubhouse and create compelling surrounding outdoor spaces to complement it. These indoor-outdoor spaces are envisioned to accommodate a wide-range of activities and user groups. Examples include: • Special events • Organized group gatherings • Social gatherings, such as weddings and family reunions • Theater or music in the park (small scale) The community activities area is envisioned to be an appealing place to spontaneously gather, socialize, and simply hang out. In this context, the aesthetics of the area, sense of place, and viewsheds across the park are all important to creating a space people want to use all days of the week. The design theme established for this area will also influence the design character and quality expectation for the rest of the park. The clubhouse is envisioned to be repurposed to a flexible-use and programmable community space for events and group gatherings. Day-to-day, the restrooms and possibly vending will be available to park users. In winter, the facility can be used as warming house or a place to organize for outdoor activities, such as informal skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The facility will also serve as a de facto trailhead for the regional trail. The clubhouse building is of good quality and well maintained. Architecturally, the aesthetics of the building warrant updating for park purposes. The color, exterior facade treatments, etc. will all evolve to be consistent with design themes that emerge for this area of the park, and the park in general. Field games area Flexible-use lawn gathering space Outdoor courtyard and event space Repurposed clubhouse Ponding Parkway The outdoor spaces in this area are of equal importance. Flexible outdoor spaces for gatherings, casual socializing, and just hanging out are imagined. Design features include arbors, ornamental planting, benches, etc. Art pieces, sculptures, and other forms of community expression are also appropriate design features as part of an overall high quality design theme. The graphic illustrates the general location of the design components and character of the community use area. FOR LIWNG, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY ADVENTURE PLAY AREA Community activities and < events area The major objective of this use area is to robustly engage youth and teens in appealing non-programmed outdoor activities. This includes providing a variety of innovative play and outdoor adventure components that appeal to age groups from the very young through the 15 to 18 year old age group — the latter of which being a recognized challenging group to engage. For the younger age groups, envisioned play components include theme-based adventure-type play structures at a community park-scale. The creativity of the design is key to making this a park feature that children will be eager to return to time and again. The vision master plan identifies the general location for the play area. Actual features, shape and size will be determined during detail design phase, with additional input being needed from targeted groups. The accompanying photos are just examples of how wide-ranging the possibilities are for imaginative approaches to play areas that goes beyond traditional play structures. Character sketch illustrates the general location of adventure play area. Field games area — Adventure play area — Imaginative play can be as simple as a small raft in a shallow pond (upper right) to site-specific designs that fit the overall design theme for the park (above). Incorporating "active participation" features (right) is also an increasingly popular approach to play areas. All of these examples highlight the increasing sophistication of creating play areas that are fun, stimulating and educational. 16 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Adding a splash pad for younger children would be another interesting play feature that expands the recreational value of the play area. For older age groups, providing a challenging outdoor adventure-based recreational area space is envisioned. Although not an exhaustive list, examples of the types of features envisioned include: • Slacklines • Bouldering rock and/or climbing wall • Ropes ladder and/or course, along with cargo nets • Balance logs or beams Slacklining is one those unique recreational activities that appeal to multiple generations, and can serve to bring people of various backgrounds and age groups together to have fun and socialize. The proximity of the adventure play areas to one another and other park uses is an important design consideration. Providing adequate separation between age groups to avoid conflicts is obviously important. Conversely, the design should still allow for different age groups to observe the activities of other groups as part of the socialization aspect of the park experience. Designing these areas for ease of monitoring is also important, especially when a parent has children of varying ages and interests using different play features. Adequately buffering the noise from the play areas is also an important design consideration. FIELD GAMES AREA Youth-orientedfields for sports like socce4 are in demand across the cibl. The field games area covers an area of 5 to 6 acres, with the final acreage being determined as specific community facility needs are refined through the design process. The final footprint of the field games area will also be influenced by the shape and size of adjoining elements, especially the play and outdoor adventure use and the north arm areas. The field game area is envisioned as a well-maintained green space surrounded by trees and ponds. Field access, parking, and restrooms will all be on the south side of the field games area. Trees and natural vegetation will be used along the northern edge of this area to buffer adjacent properties and dissuade people from entering the field games area from the north side of the park. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 17 Youth-orientedfield games are one of the best ways to bring families together in a park setting. OPEN PARKLAND AREA The open parkland area is all about creating pleasant places for people to be outside doing casual recreational activities or just sitting in the park enjoying the day. FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY As a baseline, the field games area is intended to address youth-oriented sports such as soccer, lacrosse, and perhaps football. Although not a full solution, providing field space on this site helps address the unmet demand for more sports fields throughout the community. For reference, space requirements for standard soccer field sizes include: • Regulation full size — 1.75 to 2.0 acres • Intermediate — 1.0 to 1.25 acres • Junior size — 0.5 to 0.75 acre Taking it a step further, accommodating other forms of established or emerging field activities is worthy of consideration. Examples of this include: • Wiffieball (0.25 to 0.50 acre) — alternative to baseball and softball for smaller field spaces and oriented toward young children and family or group fun • Futsal (0.25 to 0.50 acre) — game played on a hard surfaced, basketball sized court with a smaller, heavier low bounce ball • Sand volleyball and footvolly (0.10 acre) — latter is sand volleyball without using hands • Puckelball (from Sweden) — basically entails adding moguls or rolling grade to a soccer field to create a very unique dimension to playing a soccer ball Other important design considerations related to the field games area include irrigation, field grades, and soil type (i.e. sand/peat or basic topsoil). Although considered, providing lighting was not widely accepted as appropriate for this community park setting. Puckelball is one example of one-off twist to a common game that would be unique' to Edina, and likely Minnesota. Providing quiet spaces for casual recreation and simply enjoying being outdoors in a beautiful setting is the theme for this area. Passive uses — such as walking along a well-designed trail or promenade, or sitting on a bench overlooking a pond — is a prime focus for this area, as is "quiet" active recreational and exercise uses. Examples of the latter include places for yoga classes, to toss a frisbee, or fly a kite. Key elements envisioned for this area include: • Curvilinear walking trails (that are separate and distinguishable from the regional trail) • Promenades with community art, sculptures, and other forms of community expression • Sitting areas, with shade structures, arbors, and/or vegetation • Lawn areas for casual recreation and informal play • Flexible-use activity nodes and structures for outdoor recreation (e.g., yoga classes) and casual gatherings (i.e., senior groups, group picnicking) The master plan view and character sketches on the next page conceptually illustrate how design creativity and the use of various design elements (i.e., promenades, community art, sculptures, etc.) are important to creating a unique park identify and high quality community park experience. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 18 - Passive use parkland Open lawn for casual recreation Activity node/ structure Park feature/art/ sculpture node - Promenade Regional trail - Edge boardwalk w/sitling areas Naturalized parkland - Park trails - Naturalized buffers - Park trails Enhanced ponding Flexible-use activity node with structure Promenade with sitting areas Open lawn area for informal recreation Ponding area FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY The vision master plan illustrates a diversity of park use areas, activity nodes, and features that can be incorporated into a final design to create a compelling and unique park setting. \Maw Open _parkland for Seating area with Internal trail Boardwalk Open parkland casual uses shade structures across wetlands As these cross-section character sketches illustrate, the park offers numerous opportunities to create a variety of compelling outdoor spaces to meet defined community needs and provide a diversity of park experiences. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 19 ,...1n11.0.7.047.21• A.1,211 In select locations, such as the far west end or north arm, using narrowet; aggregate szufaced trails may be an appropriate alternative to paved park FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY As the overall vision master plan illustrates, the western part of the open parkland area is envisioned as a naturalized passive use area with a limited palette of developed features. Key features in this area include ponds, expanded natural areas, and simple walking paths with sitting areas and observation areas — the latter of which being placed to take advantage of expansive views across the park. Expanding the existing ponding areas is envisioned to enhance the park aesthetic and habitat for wildlife, along with improving stormwater management and better managing flooding concerns associated with the Nine Mile Creek watershed. (Note: this relates to addressing City of Edina water management concerns, and does not address any stormwater management issues associated with the Pentagon Park redevelopment. The latter is the responsibility of the developer.) The north arm area of the park is currently an undefined and undeveloped space. Uses envisioned for this area are consistent with the larger open parkland area to the west, albeit focused on neighborhood play space and quiet walking trails. Features such as a butterfly or wildflower gardens or colorful prairie exhibits would add interest and provide a pleasant place to walk or sit and observe nature. Smaller open lawn areas would provide space for informal neighborhood use. Specific improvements envisioned for this area include: • Continuation of the internal park trails — perhaps a bit narrower and soft-surfaced for those seeking a more casual, natural trail experience • Adding to and improving buffering between the park and residential properties • Addressing poor drainage and grade issues to make the central part of this area more usable and less prone to maintenance issues; perhaps use rain gardens to help manage stormwater in a more appealing manner • Providing open lawn areas for casual outdoor play, with a neighborhood use focus • Providing a smaller, neighborhood-focused play structure (would complement, not duplicate, the larger adventure play area) (During the planning process, developing the north arm for urban agriculture was considered as a potential alternative use. This is considered in more detail on page 22.) Naturalized • buffers around periphoy of north arm Buttedly/ wildflower gardens Open lawn area for neighborhood Pla.v Park trails Naturalized buffers — NATURALIZED IL UFFERS Naturalized buffers are envisioned along the entire northern property line to create an appealing edge to the park and demarcate the park from adjacent residential properties. The buffers will be designed to mutually benefit park users and adjacent homeowners. From a park user's perspective, the goal is to preserve the park's sense of place while walking along a trail, and to avoid feeling like one is intruding into someone's backyard. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 20 Private property Property line Viewshed fi om property Private property Property line Viewshed from property Viewshed front park Park trail FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY From a homeowner's perspective, the goal is to maintain a sense of privacy while still providing select views of the park. Although a costly initiative, burying the power line running along the north property was supported by residents. Using vegetation to reduce the extent to which lights from the Pentagon Park area can be seen should be part of the buffer design. The following character sketches illustrate several options in terms of buffer treatments, which would be used based on actual circumstances and homeowner input. Dense natural buffer to more fully screen private properties from park development As these cross-section character sketches illustrate, the goal is to adequately buffer adjacent properties from park activities for mutual benefit. The exact design treatment along the property line will vaty depending on site-specific circumstances and preferences. Managed natural buffer to allow for select views into the park from private properties As the cross-sections illustrate, maintaining separation between residential property lines and built features, like trails, is important for park users and homeowners. In general, 50 or more feet is a common baseline for minimum separation, but the exact distance is situational. Grades along the property line, density of vegetation, elevations of adjoining houses and decks, etc. all factor into final design decisions and separation requirements. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 21 URBAN AGRICULTURE AREA (ALTERNATIVE NORTH ARM USE) The urban agriculture idea builds von the well-established community garden theme. Additional examples and ideas can be found at: • foodtank.com/news/2014/02/capital-city- farming-10-urban-agriculture-projects- in-washington-dc • csmonitorcom/World/ Making-a-difference/Change- Agent/2014/0603/12-agrihoods-aim-to- make-farm-to-table-living-mainstream • designntrendcom/ articles/11 703/201403 14/argitopias-are- popping-up-all-over-the-place.htm • jonesvalleyteachingfarm.org/our-stoty/ our-impact/ FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY REPURPOSING THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING A variety of options are available for repurposing the existing maintenance building. Using the building for storage, maintenance, and restrooms is a clear option. Providing space for other uses — such as bike rental, storage, and maintenance classes — also needs to be considered as the detail design for this area takes shape. Using part of the building for an indoor-outdoor adventure play area offers some potential to expand play options. (Note: This approach needs more consideration as part of the City's system-wide parks planning effort to determine need and viability.) As with the clubhouse, the maintenance building is of good quality and in good repair. Here too the architectural aesthetics of the building warrant updating for park purposes. The color, exterior facade treatments, etc. will all evolve to be consistent with design themes that emerge for the clubhouse. As previously noted, developing the north arm for urban agriculture was considered as an alternative use in lieu of open parkland. The following outlines that discussion. The urban agriculture idea builds upon the community garden program that has taken root in many communities around the country. A community garden is essentially where a city provides small plots for residents to grow produce for personal consumption. The urban agriculture program takes this to the next level in which growing produce can be for personal consumption, resale at farmers markets (which could be held in the park), sold locally, or used for cooking classes. Adding an educational component, such as how to grow produce, is also commonly integrated into the urban agriculture theme. Providing a space and/or structure for healthy eating cooking classes builds upon this theme. Accommodating organized farm-to-table events within the park is also an opportunity. Specific elements and facilities related to this use area include: • Fenced agricultural field area —2 to 4 acres • Shed and shelter structure for storing equipment and organizing activities • Utility service — water, electricity, etc. Taking this one step further, the shed and shelter structure could be upgraded to three-season shelter that could provide indoor/outdoor space for classes, farm-to-table events, and general group use. L.4 ;-; • FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 22 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Implementation Considerations OVERVIEW INTERRELATIONSHIP AND COLLABORATION WITH PENTAGON PARK REDEVELOPMENT There are a variety of implementation considerations that will impact the repurposing of the Fred Richards site from a golf course to a community park. The following outlines the most predominant of these at a vision master plan level. Each of these, plus other considerations, will have to be more fully vetted and addressed during the detail master planning step in the process. The City and Pentagon Park development team have been working together for some time on a redevelopment plan for the commercial area south of the park. The development team has also been engaged in this planning process to ensure mutual understanding of issues and desired outcomes associated with repurposing the Fred Richards site. Discussions with the development team suggest a common vision of repurposing the Fred as a high-value community park is both achievable and mutually beneficial. This common vision is even reflected in the developer's overarching theme of "wellness" for the Pentagon Park redevelopment. The City's own tag line of Edina being a place for "living, learning, raising families and doing business" reinforces the importance of the private development area and public park be designed as complementary aspects of the larger community form. The following outlines the key provisions of the City's resolution granting rezoning of the Pentagon Park redevelopment area, along with some key points of focus that came out of this process. RESOLUTION GRANTING PRELIMINARY REZONING TO PUD FOR THE PENTAGON PARK REDEVELOPMENT AREA A resolution granting preliminary rezoning to PUD and an overall development plan was approved by the City Council in March of 2014. The rezoning resolution extensively covers the findings and conditions of approval that will guide the development. Key provisions of the resolution include that the land use proposal will: • Be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan • Meet the intent of the PUD, with the site guided as "Office Residential" (which is a transitional area between higher intensity districts and residential districts); primary uses include offices, housing, limited service uses, limited industrial, parks and open space - Create a more efficient and creative use of the property; this includes better vehicle and pedestrian connections, enhanced green space and ponding, a mixture of land uses, improved architecture and sustainability, and shared parking with the park FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 23 FRED RICHARDS REPLTRPOSE STUDY Under the resolution, the proposed project must also meet the pertinent goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan, including: • Design public open and green linkages that bring both amenity and positive image to neighborhoods, corridors, and business precincts • Design public streets to serve not only vehicles but also pedestrians, people with mobility aids, and bicycles • Create walkable streets that foster an active public life; streets that are energized by their proximity to a vibrant mix of activity-generating uses • Preserve and make accessible natural areas and features as part of a comprehensive open space network • Within larger redevelopment sites, promote a fine-grained and interconnected network of local streets and paths, encouraging pedestrian circulation and providing a choice of access points • Encourage infill/redevelopment opportunities that optimize use of city infrastructure and that complement area, neighborhood, and/or corridor context and character • Stay committed to the "podium" height concept, with podium being defined as the part of a building that abuts the street, or provides the transition to residential neighborhoods, parks, and other sensitive land uses; the intent with the concept is to create a consistent street wall envelope and a comfortable pedestrian environment KEY POINTS OF Focus FOR CONTINUED COLLABORATION With respect to the Fred Richards site, continued collaboration between the City and developer on infrastructure development and design of buildings and streetscapes is imperative. Key points of focus going forward include: • Designing the parkway to provide ease of access to the park and development area, with the roadway being located on the southern edge of the park with minimal encroachment into park acreage; the aesthetic qualities of the parkway's streetscape should complement the design themes and character established for the park • Building facades in the new development should provide a aesthetically pleasant backdrop as viewed from within the park and along the parkway; this includes an appealing architectural style, ample trees and vegetation, and limiting lighting impacts on and across the park • The park site and Pentagon Park development will independently manage their own stormwater — although this does not preclude seeking mutually beneficial stormwater management outcomes (as determined by the City to be in its best interest) The provisions of the City's rezoning resolution along with the key points of focus listed above provide a clear direction and set of expectations on the interrelationship between the park and the Pentagon Park development area to the south. The importance of the design for these two areas being of high quality and complementary cannot be overstated. Doing so is imperative for the park to retain a compelling sense of place. FOR. LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 24 Although well-maintained and visually appealing, the poor soils across the park will have to be addressed as part of any park development. Through insightful design, the aesthetic value, water quality and overall function of the site wetlands and ponds can be much improved. FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Aesthetically, the Fred Richards site offers a very appealing setting for a community park. Unfortunately, development of the site brings with it some significant technical challenges that will have to be addressed. Most pressing of these is dealing with poor site soils, protecting wetlands, and addressing stormwater management issues that go well beyond the site itself. With respect to site soils, peat and clay predominant across the site. These soils are prone to saturation and general instability, making it more difficult and costly to build structures and otherwise keep the park in top form. Even keeping the golf course in good playable shape required extensive use of soil-stabilizing fabric underlayment across much of the site. Going forward, accommodating site soils will undoubtedly be a factor in design decisions pertaining to the type and location of site features. Practical limitations on site grading will likely be one of the most pressing issues as development plans take shape. With respect to wetlands, all of the current ponds and waterways found across the site are protected under wetland conservation laws. Depending on type and quality, any relocation requires mitigation, even if done onsite. Depending on independent value assessments, mandated replacement ratios can range from 2 1/4 up to 9 acres for every 1 displaced wetland acre. From a practical and philosophical standpoint, every attempt needs to made to avoid displacing the existing ponds and wetlands. Water management issues associated with the larger Nine Mile Creek watershed further complicates onsite stormwater and wetland protection issues. Succinctly stated, there is a need for additional stormwater management capacity throughout the watershed — including the Fred Richards site. This relates to both water quality and water volume. The increasingly routine occurrence of flooding across parts of the golf course illustrate that this issue is not going away and that this site needs to be part of the broader stormwater management solution. If done well, increasing the surface area of ponds within the park would be beneficial in several important ways. First, increasing the size and scale of the ponding areas would obviously help address the stormwater management issues previously defined. Second, and of perhaps greater importance to the park user, a well-designed expanded system of ponds and wetlands could further enhance the aesthetic qualities of the park. Well-shaped and located ponds can provide additional "edges" to work off of when designing trails, providing sitting areas, and creating different spaces within the park. Third, well-designed ponds and wetlands can dramatically increase the value of the wildlife habitat within the park. For example, providing wider naturalized buffers along the ponds over what is currently the case would greatly improve habitat quality and quantity. Typically, a higher quality buffer needs be 30 to 60 feet wide, depending on the site-specific circumstances. TECHNICAL CONDITIONS AND CHALLENGES (INCLUDES NINE MILE CREEK WATERSHED RELATED CONSIDERATIONS) FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 25 -rT -Luie.T.Nr" A 1 111111 11 .1 /a% HI • • !'i; 'Vt1141111111 111611. 1111 111/ FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY Taken together, the potential benefits of adding ponding as part of an overall design can be significant — both at the park level and larger watershed level. For reference, the following graphic illustrates the extent to which existing ponds and wetlands have been expanded as represented on the vision master plan shown on page 10. The blue areas represent expanded ponding relative to existing ponding and wetland areas. Note that the final shape and size of ponds will be determined during the detailed master plan phase of the project. COST PROJECTIONS FOR REPURPOSING SITE The forthcoming cost projections provide a range of potential costs associated with repurposing the site from a golf course to a community park. The projections are based on a combination of site-specific development issues and professional judgments based on developments of similar characteristics. The projections are based on 2014 dollars, which will require inflation adjustments over time. (Also note that 2014 was a volatile year in project bidding for similar work (i.e., bids have been coming in higher than expected), with a fair amount of uncertainty remaining in the marketplace going forward.) At the vision master plan level, the level of plan detail combined with market uncertainties pose inherent limitations in projecting potential costs. The intended use of the cost projections is to aid the City in developing an overall funding and implementation strategy, including: • Defining the magnitude of the investment needed to develop the park FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 26 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY • Comparing the relative cost of a basic level of development with that of a more robust approach that more fully achieves the vision as set forth in this plan • Prioritizing and budgeting for capital improvement program COST ESTIMATING CATEGORIES For budgeting purposes, the cost estimate is broken down into categories. Several categories are associated with city-funded development, and several categories relate to work completed by others or the city acting in partnership with others. Others include the Pentagon Park developers, Three Rivers Park District, and Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. City-funded development categories include: • Baseline park development package — includes the core elements of repurposing the park from a golf course to a community park; generally, this includes the community activities and events area, adventure play area, and basic field games area; open parkland area development is limited to trails and a limited palette of other site amenities, such as sitting areas • Open parkland area enhancements package — includes the major development elements in this area, such as the promenades, boardwalks, developed activity nodes, art and sculpture, etc.; also includes some enhancements to the community activities area • Field games area enhancements package — includes upgrading the fields from topsoil surfacing to sand-based fields and related elements, such as underdrainage Partnership or by-others funded categories include: • Parkway package — includes the roadway and related streetscape elements; the presumption is that the Pentagon Park developer will be the lead and primarily responsible for this work • Regional trail package — includes the regional trail and related development; the presumption is Three Rivers Park District will be the lead and responsible for this work • Pond expansion, stormwater management, and water quality improvements package — includes expanding ponds and related; City may be responsible for costs, but as part of a larger Nine Mile Creek watershed planning strategy COST ESTIMATE RANGES The following summarizes the cost ranges associated with each to the listed categories. Cost ranges are provided due to pricing and quantity variabilities associated with this level of planning. Cost ranges include 15% add-on for testing, design and survey fees, along with 2% for geotechnical testing and permitting. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 27 FRED RICHARDS REPURPOSE STUDY City-Funded Development Categories: Baseline development park package $2,966,000 to $3,559,000 Open parkland area enhancements package $2,897,000 to $3,476,000 Field games area enhancements package $ 713,000 to $ 855,000 Total $6,576,000 to $7,890,000 Costs associated with partnership or by-others funded categories are more broadly considered since others play a lead or partnership role in developing design solutions. For planning context, it is expected that the parkway package will be in the $2 million plus range. The regional trail package will be in the $500,000 plus range (although this will be highly influenced by the need for bridges and dealing with soil conditions). Pond expansion, stormwater management, and water quality improvements package is highly variable and dependent on overall size of the ponding expansion. For budgeting purposes, $1 million is a reasonable starting point, with many factors influencing the final costs for this type of work. Also note that setting aside a 10% to 20% cost contingency is recorrnnended for each of the above categories to guard against unknowns in final design outcomes and changes in the bidding environment at the point of development. FOR LIVING, LEARNING, RAISING FAMILIES & DOING BUSINESS 28 Fred Richards Stakeholders Dan Erhardt Cedars of Edina Community Manager Kim Hoffman Parklawn Home Community Manager Brittney Martinez Edina Park Apts Community Manager Cliff Akins Premier Properties Property Manager Lois Wagner Heatherton Condos Resident/Condo Board Member Christine Nelson Parklawn Condos Resident/Condo Board Member Peter Choukalas Lake Edina Association Resident Steve Curry South Cornelia Resident Art Terwilliger South Cornelia Resident Angel Luther South Cornelia Resident Sarah Lenhardt South Cornelia Resident Elizabeth Ogren Pedal & Roll for Parkinsons Resident Derek Johnson South Cornelia Resident Kevin Duban Burgundy Apts Resident Marie Sullivan South Cornelia Resident David Hellerman South Cornelia ResidentSouth Cornelia/Lake EdinaParklawn Neighborhood Maria Erickson Cradle Club Director Kristina Smitten Hillcrest/ The Link Sustainability Director Scott Tankenhoff Hillcrest/ The Link Western Life Insurance Edina HS Cornelia Elementary Boe Carlsom Three Rivers Park District Randy Anhorn Nine Mile Creed Watershed District District Adminstrator Dawn Martin Edina Soccer Club Sally Arndt Edina Lacrosse Shane Stumm Edina Soccer Association Mary Kuehl Edina Girls Athletic Assocation Gary Wells Public Works Brian Olson Public Works Director Dave Goergen Public Works Ross Bintner Engineering Engineering Services Manager Jessica Wilson Engineering Water Resources Tara Brown Admin Sustainability Tom Swenson Pars and Rec Braemar Golf CourseCity Staff TeamBusinessesCommunity Groups/OrganizationsSchools Mark Nolan Engineering Brian Driste Public Works Bill Neuendorf Admin Economic Developer Bob Prestrud Park Maintenance Eric Boettcher Park and Recreation Recreation Supervisor Susan Faus Park and Recreation Assistant Director Ann Kattreh Park and Recreation Director Scott Neal Admin City Manager Tom Shirley Park and Recreation Centennial Lakes Manager MJ Lamon Admin Project Coordinator Park BoardCity Council Date Event/Meeting Location Time Set-Up Attending 8 Winter Party Parklawn AptsCity, ?15 Winter Party Edina ParkCity, ?10 Printed Materials Premier Properties- City Council/ PB = 12? Winter Party Cedars of EdinaCity, ? Community =10 Breakfast with Santa Braemar Golf Course 9:00 AMStaff =14 Park Board Workshop Edina City Hall 6:00PMConf./ Dreambox Staff =17 Santa Land Braemar Arena 10:30 AMBusinesses = 31 New Year's Party EP 5:00 - 8:00 PMPop ups = 4 City Council Work Session Edina City Hall 5:30 PM Conf./ Dreambox8 Winter Ice Festival Centennial Lakes 1:00 - 5:00 PMNeighborhood Meeting Cedars of Edina 7:00 - 8:00 PMNeighborhood Meeting Parklawn Apts 7:00 - 8:00 PMNeighborhood Meeting Cornelia Elementary 7:00 - 8:00 PM Conf./ Dreambox4 Park Board Meeting Edina City Hall 7:00 PM**Some listed are opportunites but have not been decided.MayDecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchApril Summary of October 2016 Park Board Brainstorming on Lesson Learned Keep Doing – • Keep improving the website • Continue to work on marketing efforts and communication; critically important • Keep working to engage more with the community in finding unique and creative ways to do that • Continue to hold meetings at other venues and initiate site visits • Continue focusing on their work items • Keep meetings to 2 hours • Keep getting updates from consultants/owners of projects in addition to staff updates Start Doing – • Improve the prioritization process with the City Council so there may be a little deeper and robust conversation; meeting outside their normal meeting • Start a “Friends of the Park” concept; how can they potentially operationalize that and give people an opportunity to do it • Visit site locations • Start building connections with board members assigned to particular parks; either individuals or in small groups take ownership of some degree to four or five parks throughout the year to visit and report back with what they might see, etc. • Incorporate key metrics into work plans and reports; identify key data such as the age of the kids surrounding a certain park because that data should be considered as decisions are made • Start socializing and visiting parks; include council members for tours and have talking points and key initiatives to go through • Establish an annual calendar of what’s going to happen each month at the meetings; what is the formal process to add an item to the agenda • Have more accountability from other departments we rely heavily on such as communications and park maintenance; sometimes things owned by other departments that do not go well can reflect poorly on the Park Board and Parks & Recreation Department Stop Doing – • Stop counting on only board meetings for attendance; start counting other projects/engagements towards attendance and maybe have a point system of some type • Do not need a School Board liaison Park Board Member; do not see a connection or value for it • Stop having all works plan items tied to staff capacity; start moving forward on more items without having to wait for staff to have time Date: December 13, 2016 To: City Council Members From: Brenda McCormick, Chair Park Board Subject: Request to Eliminate School Board Representative on Park Board Action Requested: For the upcoming 2017 appointments, the park board members recommend to permanently eliminate the requirement for school board representation on park board Situation: At our October 2016 meeting, the park board members met in small groups to reflect on the past year. They were asked to comment on what went well and what could improve. One group suggested that we eliminate the school board member requirement and open the seat to a community member. The rest of the members concurred. Many times the park board meetings conflict with other commitments of the School Board; there are occasions that the rep is late or doesn’t attend. In addition, we do not see the School Board representative providing additional insight to the board’s decision making based on the school board agenda. Moreover, the school board representative does not actively engaged in work plan initiatives, putting more work on the other park board members. Background: This has been the practice for over 35 years. There are no other communities in the metro area that have school board members on their park board. It is a very uncommon practice. We don’t see the value of this representation vs appointing another resident of the City Council’s choosing. City and School District staff meets monthly to discuss partnership opportunities, issues and concerns. When we’ve had issues that directly relate to the school district (i.e. Grandview or Braemar Winter Recreation), we received no input or feedback from the school board representative. Page 2 Assessment: Although the intent of the School Board representative is to provide insight into the School Board agenda and the impact on our city parks and vice-a-versa we have not found that happening in practice. We believe this seat would be better or at least equally served by a member of the community. Recommendation: The park board unanimously recommends that going forward the park board seat currently occupied by a member of the school board be redeployed and served by a member of the community. City Council Updates By Scott Neal November 15, 2016 • Nothing to Report December 6, 2016 • Approved the 2017 Park Board Work Plan • Approved the Resolution for approving the 2017 Parks & Recreation fees for 2017 • Recognized the Minnesota Recreation & Park Association Award of Excellence for Braemar Field • Approved the 2017 operating budget, set the 2017 tax levy and approved the 2017-2021 CIP